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Einsiedler Photo: Roland zh · CC BY-SA 3.0

horse breed · 671 on Animalso

Einsiedler Horse: A Historic Swiss Warmblood

Switzerland
Animal
Horse
Origin
Switzerland

Read from Wikipedia and Wikidata on 2 Oct 2026.

Read on Wikipedia Breeds like it

The Einsiedler, also called Einsiedeln, is a historic warmblood horse from Switzerland. Its roots reach back to the eleventh century, and breeding continues at the Benedictine Abbey of Einsiedeln. Its stud-book ended in the mid-twentieth century, when the Einsiedler joined the Swiss Halfblood and local breeds in forming the Swiss Warmblood. Reports call it extinct, yet about a hundred traditional horses remain, with fewer than ten foals born each year.

What the Einsiedler is

The Einsiedler, or Einsiedeln, is a historic Swiss population or breed of warmblood horse. Its story belongs among horse breeds from Switzerland.

Breeding took place, and still takes place, at the Benedictine Abbey of Einsiedeln in the Canton of Schwyz. The horse is also known as the Cavallo della Madonna.

Origins and background

The breed’s roots reach back to the eleventh century. The Einsiedler was maintained at the abbey in Switzerland.

In the mid-twentieth century, its stud-book was discontinued. The Einsiedler was then merged with the Swiss Halfblood and local breeds such as the Ajoie, Erlenbacher and Entlebucher to form the Swiss Warmblood.

What stands out

The Einsiedler has a long recorded connection with Einsiedeln Abbey. The traditional type is still bred there.

Its history links an old Swiss warmblood population with the modern Swiss Warmblood, a sport horse.

What to keep in mind

The traditional Einsiedler is reported to be extinct, even though the type continues at the abbey. The remaining population is thought to number about a hundred horses.

Fewer than ten foals are born each year, and the original stud-book is no longer maintained.

Pricing

The Einsiedler is a horse breed rather than a software service, so software plans and prices do not apply here.

Who may want another breed

Readers seeking a large, actively maintained stud-book may prefer to compare other entries in horse breeds. In the mid-twentieth century, the Einsiedler’s stud-book ended as it joined the Swiss Halfblood and local breeds in forming the Swiss Warmblood.

Anyone researching a rare historic type should account for its very small remaining population and limited foal numbers.

Verdict

Choose the Einsiedler if its Swiss abbey history and traditional warmblood identity are central to your search. It is a distinct subject for breed-history research, but its status is unusual: the type survives at Einsiedeln while reports describe the breed as extinct.

The Swiss Warmblood was created as a modern sport horse.

What stands out

  • Roots trace back to the eleventh century.
  • Breeding continues at Einsiedeln Abbey.
  • The traditional type remains linked to Switzerland.
  • Its history connects to the Swiss Warmblood.

Worth knowing

  • The original stud-book was discontinued.
  • The breed is reported to be extinct.
  • About a hundred traditional horses are thought to remain.
  • Fewer than ten foals are born each year.

Suits

  • Readers studying historic Swiss horse breeds
  • People interested in Einsiedeln Abbey’s breeding tradition

Think twice if

  • You need a widely available breed with a current, separate stud-book.
  • You want a modern sport-horse registry rather than a historic type.

In short

The Einsiedler is a rare Swiss warmblood with an unusually long link to Einsiedeln Abbey. Its eleventh-century roots and continued breeding at the abbey make it important to the history of Swiss horses. At the same time, the discontinued stud-book, merger into the Swiss Warmblood and very small population mean it is not a straightforward choice for someone seeking a widely available, separately registered breed. It suits readers focused on heritage and preservation. For a modern sport-horse search, start with the Swiss Warmblood or other documented horse breeds.

Questions

What is the Einsiedler?

The Einsiedler, also called Einsiedeln, is a historic Swiss warmblood horse population or breed.

Where did the Einsiedler originate?

It comes from Switzerland and was bred at the Benedictine Abbey of Einsiedeln in the Canton of Schwyz.

How old is the Einsiedler breed?

Its roots reach back to the eleventh century.

Is the Einsiedler extinct?

It is reported to be extinct, but the traditional type is still bred at the abbey.

How many Einsiedler horses remain?

There may be about a hundred traditional Einsiedler horses in all.

What happened to its stud-book?

The stud-book was discontinued in the mid-twentieth century, and the Einsiedler was merged into the Swiss Warmblood with other local breeds.

More horse breeds from Switzerland

Erlenbach horse Erlenbach horse Switzerland Photo: Karl-Joseph Brodtmann · Public domain
Freiberger Freiberger Switzerland Photo: Rama · CC BY-SA 2.0 fr
Swiss Warmblood Swiss Warmblood Switzerland Photo: Clément Bucco-Lechat · CC BY-SA 3.0
Bisbino horse Switzerland
Swiss Pony Switzerland
Photo credits4 photographs on this page

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